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LaTonia Rich, Executive Director, at the Tree of Hope Association offices
Tree of Hope Association Setting Roots with SCORE

Tree of Hope Association, LaTonia Rich

Title / Role: Executive Director
Location: Rockville, Maryland
Formed in: 2014
www.treeofhopeassn.com
SHARE THIS SUCCESS STORY
My successes.

With my mentor's help, I developed a business plan for TOH. As a result of that foundational work, our organization was able to secure local grants and, most recently, ground-floor office space worthy of our clients.

What do you do?

TOH is a completely volunteer-run organization that provides peer mentoring (both group and one-on-one), peer training, and social integration programming for people new to recovery. Peers essentially empower people in recovery to rebuild their lives, by connecting them to resources that make them whole -- whether it is a food bank or a physician. The goal is for that individual to walk away from our services after six months surrounded by a supportive community. We started doing peer training in 2018 because the closest option for the 500-hour peer certification program was in Baltimore. We've now trained and certified more than 800 people as peers. During the pandemic, we were asked by Montgomery County (MD) to provide our peer services to the shelter system because the county did not have sufficient staff to meet the demand. We have done this extremely well and now between the treatment centers, shelters, and prisons, we assist about 80 people every month through our peer services. 

What inspired you to start your business?

I have lived experience with substance misuse and came through the Avery Road Treatment Center. The center's executive director asked me, my husband, and other alumni of the program to be peers to people still in the program. It means a lot to be able to give those who are starting their lives over with the best chance they have through TOH.

What's special about your business?

We are a volunteer-run nonprofit that provides peer-support services to people that most others shun. Our goal is to uplift those who have fallen so they may stand as productive members of society.  We leave no one behind who wants help. Our peer training program provides the ability for many who are in long-term recovery to find jobs, housing, and other needed resources. 

What is your relationship with SCORE? SCORE client What influenced you to seek help from SCORE?

After we secured our 501(c)(3) status, I reached out to SCORE. Although we had been providing peer services for some time, we had never run a business. I didn't want to do this on my own; I wanted to have experienced people guiding me. I wanted to be sure that we were building a solid foundation for TOH.

How SCORE helped.

It educated me on what I was doing and what to expect in creating this nonprofit. It also gave me a sense of empowerment and instilled confidence in me to tackle my fears for our future.

What's great about my mentor?

Angela was amazing. She was kind and she was patient. She never made me feel bad for not knowing how to run a business or write a business plan. She gave me her perspective and insight, which in turn gave me the confidence to make decisions for the business.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting a small business?

If you are the smartest person in the room, leave the room.  Always surround yourself with people who have more experience. That's how you will continue to grow.

What would you tell a fellow business owner about SCORE?

Someone told me once to never be the smartest person in the room; seek out those with experience so you can learn from them. That's what SCORE provides. My SCORE mentor introduced me to concepts and ideas that had never occurred to me.  Whenever I meet someone who is starting a business I always refer them to SCORE to help them lay their foundational bricks. 

Additional media
Tree of Hope Association at Pride Day event
Hope mural in Tree of Hope Association offices
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712 H St NE PMB 98848
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Washington, DC 20002
(443) 860-6194

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Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

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